Women's World Cup: Accusing Pratika Rawal of nepotism shows viciousness and cluelessness of social media

Trolling of Pratika Rawal shows the viciousness and cluelessness of social media (BCCI Photo)

It is easy to attack a soft target. Pratika Rawal is one such. I have seen a lot of trolling of this youngster, and things are getting out of hand. This is the disgusting aspect of Indian cricket fandom. People do it for likes and retweets, and they don’t understand the impact it can have on a person. Having experienced it first hand, I have a clear sense of these things and can guess what Pratika must be going through.

First things first. No one did Pratika a favour by giving her an opportunity. She has earned it by virtue of her efforts. Yes, she hasn’t been at her best at the top of the order. Her strike-rate could be better and that will help India. There is no denying that there is scope for improvement. Having said that, to suggest that she is unworthy and Shafali Verma would have changed things radically is complete nonsense.

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Shafali, for the record, has a career ODI strike-rate of 83. And she has been around far longer than Pratika. Her average is 23, and she made just 113 runs in her last eight innings in the format. Pratika, on the other hand, averages 49 with a strike-rate of 82. The debate ends there. Shafali, we all agree, hasn’t really done justice to her talent. To say that she was the answer to India’s top-order issues is plain unfair on Pratika and the selectors.

This is where the team management has a role. To cocoon its players and back them. However much you say that the players are off social media or have been told not to check things, everyone sees everything. Or they are told of it by friends and family. To think that Pratika doesn’t know what is being said about her is to live in a make-believe world.

That’s where the question of mental health comes in. What will she be going through when she steps out against England? Will this push her to do things outside her comfort zone? Does that help India? What do Amol Muzumdar or Harmanpreet Kaur need to do in these times to make sure that she is not scarred? What does Smriti Mandhana do when the duo next walk out to bat?

Also Read | Lack of application and common sense could cost India the ICC Women's World Cup

Coming back to social media, 90 percent of the people talking up Shafali don’t even know who she is, or what her scores were in the last year or so. They don’t follow the game or know anything about it. They are social-media flunkies, the new-age vultures. They see something fetching a few likes and retweets, and jump on the bandwagon to make hay. That’s how social media operates.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Pratika Rawal from Delhi.
**Her strike rate never goes above 100.
She plays in the Indian because of her father's connections in BCCI. Her father is a BCCI certified Umpire.
She is one of the reasons India starts slowly in Powerplay#INDWvsAUSW pic.twitter.com/sS1CPQHCz0

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— Wickets Hitting (@offpacedelivery) October 12, 2025

Having said that, it can scar you. No one enjoys abuse or being accused of nepotism. More so if you are a young person trying to cut her teeth in international sport. That’s why Pratika needs to be spoken to and assured that the team is with her.

India face two of the most important matches they will ever play next week. We need every player focussed and in sync. Pratika is key. It is time we back her to the hilt.